A/n: A massive thank you to my beta NikkiB1973.

I do not own Star Trek: Voyager.

"We made it." In repetition the words were louder, no longer muffled by shocked, dreamlike awe, but still reverential. Punchy, though, as relief and exhilaration battled their made through the emotional maelstrom. In the comfortable, contained environment of her Ready Room, Kathryn could, perhaps paradoxically, find a release she couldn't in the hive of activity and excitement that was the Bridge. She was tempted to say those words again, over and over, to squeeze all she could out of them, all the belief she'd invested in them over the past seven years and change. Chant them as a mantra to convince herself.

"We did." Chakotay replied softly. She could tell he was smiling just from his voice. Years of having to read his assessment of a situation without necessarily being able to see him had fine-tuned that instinct, but nor was she surprised, when she turned around to face him, that his face was serious, even shadowed. Keenly, his dark eyes met hers and instantly took on that self-protecting wryness. "You were right Kathryn." His throat moved up and down just enough that Janeway was left wondering what exactly he was referring to. Their original deal years ago? Or about Captain Chakotay? Maybe he didn't even know, but then she wasn't quite so confident as to think that he'd just awarded her carte blanche over every difference of opinion they'd ever had.

"We did it together." She answered, her lips pursing in thought as she regarded him, before looking past him at Earth now just beyond. "I think…" Her earlier idea that they'd probably have a similar conversation to the one she'd had with his older self now struck her as null and void. Despite everything they'd gone through, she and this Chakotay hadn't reached that point, and hopefully never would now. "I think that's all he wanted really, to get us home together."

Chakotay remained silent for a few long moments. "I hope so, because if that was what it was, he succeeded." He hoped Kathryn would just leave it at that, for even those sparse words felt leaden and bittersweet in his mouth. But then, if he'd wanted to leave Captain Chakotay behind, following Captain Janeway off the Bridge hadn't been the best way to do it. He should be looking forward, towards Earth, not back at his role as First Officer.

Kathryn gave a respectful nod, but even as she did so a sigh left her lips, and she studied him pensively. "You know that we're never going to be able to discuss his role publicly?"

Chakotay struggled to shrug, but his relief was nonetheless genuine. "I think I'd rather be spared that scrutiny." He told her evenly, "And besides, we're going to have to talk about everything else."

Kathryn couldn't help but grit her teeth. "Admiral Paris is probably going to be surprised by the length of the report I promised." She admitted with a wince, "But then there's the distance between the Alpha and Delta Quadrants to cover." With a few shortcuts, she mentally added, already cringing at the thought of explaining all the twists and turns, though she proudly stood by them all.

A smile flickered briefly over Chakotay's wan features. "I'm sure he'll give you a little leeway." He assured her.

"Yes." She agreed shortly, then looked at him frankly, "I'm serious Chakotay, you'll probably never be able to fully disclose the events of the past few days, not even to a counsellor…" She trailed off as she belatedly realised that Chakotay would never confide all this to an outsider, at least not the vulnerabilities that had been exposed, any more than she would. "I just want you to know, none of this crew will forget what he, what you, did, and…" Again she stopped, "I'm going to ensure that all of our crew, yours and mine, are treated fairly. The Federation and Starfleet can be a home for all of us."

Chakotay was surprised how disconcerted he was by her reference to the two crews. It had been so long since either of them had really divided their crew, even in anger…and now 'home' would do it for them. It had rankled him, the blinkered reluctance on her part to acknowledge the differences between them all, it had often created more problems than it had solved, first for the Maquis, then for Seven… Suddenly, faced with a life that lacked that inclusive security blanket, he was uneasy. But seeing the stubborn glint in Kathryn's eyes made him reassess again; if anyone could handle bureaucrats, it was probably Kathryn Janeway. Hell, she'd fought her way past every other obstacle. "I wouldn't expect anything less." He told her with a warm, challenging honesty that lifted a weight off his shoulders.

Kathryn chuckled dryly, "I should hope not." She hovered in front of him for a moment longer, her expression hesitant, and Chakotay braced himself to hear and then deflect her anxieties, but then she seemed to snap out of it, a determined smile fixing to her face. With an easy, decisive stride she rounded her desk and became to root around searching for something. "I guess that as Captain I should…" She sprang upright again, triumphantly holding a pink fleecy baby blanket aloft, "…go and welcome our newest crewmember abroad."

Chakotay matched her grin, this time not needing to force any joy. This one was unblemished. "Of course." He chanced winking at her, "Before Admiral Paris beats you to it."

Janeway tutted jokingly, "It's still my ship, although I'll concede that a grandfather beats a Captain." She squinted at the blanket in her hand, "I haven't quite had time to finish stitching the 'M' initial…" She admitted with a self-deprecating wince, "Do you think they'll mind?"

"I think they'll let it pass, you've not had much time for sewing." Chakotay assured her. He considered advising her that B'Elanna despised pink, but thought better of it. As a brand new mother, she had other things to concentrate on, though he'd be surprised if she wasn't asking Tom, the Doctor and anyone else who'd made their way to Sickbay how Engineering was faring after their trip through the conduit.

"True…" Kathryn began with a laugh tinged with hysteria, glancing at him in concern again as she did so, but in that moment the Ready Room's doors hummed open to reveal Seven at the threshold. "Seven!" She greeted her warmly, wincing slightly as she saw Chakotay abruptly sink onto the sofa as if his legs had given way beneath him.

"Captain." Seven replied thickly, bowing her head, though Janeway realised that the gesture derived from a need to hide the hurt and trepidation that flashed across her pale face at Chakotay's reaction, rather than from her usual sense of formality.

The Captain ushered her inside while going to her herself, laying a gently supportive hand on her protégé's arm. "I was just leaving to visit the baby, but feel free to…" She looked between the couple she'd never anticipated but now rooted for fretfully with all her heart, weighed down as it was by guilt over Captain Chakotay's losses and his final actions. Feeling both sets of eyes on her knowingly, she moved swiftly on. Both would buck against her no doubt, if she orchestrated too much, who knew what was ahead for them? "Any messages for the happy family?"

Seven blinked, drawing a complete blank for an embarrassing second or so. "Congratulations." She finally tried. Thankfully the Captain smiled at her, so apparently the simple statement was sufficient for now. She was surprised about how much she wanted to see Lieutenants Torres and Paris' baby. Perhaps, as the Captain had always attempt to impress on her, she was naturally maternal, but she suspected it was the fact that the baby girl was a tangible happiness, an expected one, untainted by more difficult emotions.

Chakotay had lifted his eyes up from his feet but was rubbing the back of his neck in what both women recognised as his habitual anxious gesture. "I'll be down to see them soon." He advised Janeway quietly, before a strained bark of a laugh left his chest. "Tell Tom the conn. Is in safe hands again, since I handed it over to Ensign Jenkins."

Kathryn humoured him, "I don't know who that is supposed to reflect on Commander, you and your tendency to be involved in shuttle crashes, or me for ordering you to pilot. Anyway, I'll tell him." Very deliberately, she patted Seven's arm in encouragement before moving swiftly past her and heading back onto the Bridge.

Seven ruefully watched the Captain go. Without her buoyant presence the atmosphere in the room immediately felt oppressive, with relentless pressure building in her chest and behind her eyes as her head throbbed. She knew if she let her hand go to her forehead she'd be able to pinpoint exactly where her emotional failsafe had been removed less than 24 hours ago. Chakotay hadn't moved from the couch. He was staring across the window towards Earth with an expression on his face that she couldn't read. Her chest tightened even further as the now familiar feeling of floundering helplessness swamped her again. She still had no idea what she should say, what she could do... Admitting as much in the Shuttle Bay had not made the reality of it any easier. He'd said that she was here with him, as if that was all he needed, but how could be true when they were both in this room but not…together. She didn't understand that, didn't want to understand it. But you promised, a small voice in her head reminded her. Why ignore and avoid everything now when, perhaps, the worst was over?

Her back stiffened in a flash of anger and stubbornness, though her legs were wobbly as she left the relative safety of the doorway and walked further into the room. Pondering Earth did not appeal to her, she was afraid of what she would, or utterly fail to, feel, but still she found herself following Chakotay's gaze out of window.

"What do you think?" Chakotay suddenly asked, his husky voice cutting through the absolute silence.

"It's…beautiful." Seven murmured, a little startled by how awed she felt, that she could say that with complete honesty. The planet was peaceful, prosperous, and secure, if the fleet Voyager blended into meant anything. There was more colour, so much more life, than the images in the database had shown. Yes, beautiful. Whether she could live on this world so coveted by and so resistance to the Collective was another question entirely. Finally, she risked looking over her shoulder at him, but couldn't quite meet his gaze. "I cannot say that its beauty is irrelevant." She longed for him to tease her, bring up Ledosia, anything, but she also realised that she was serious, that the situation couldn't invite humour. Would they ever be able to return to the light-hearted ease of their picnic in the Cargo Bay? Or even the shy warmth of their first date? She wanted to, more than anything, but in that moment it didn't feel possible.

Chakotay's dark eyes were now fixed on her, the compelling sight of Earth forgotten. "I don't think it ever could be, not in this case." He replied, sighing softly as she nodded sombrely, her own piercing eyes low. He shouldn't have just sat here, he should've been able to at least go to her, especially since before she'd arrived he'd expected to have to seek her out. Again she'd surprised him. My God he was a coward, overwhelmed when it counted… He could feel his knee quaking under his fist. He moved that hand until it patted the couch. "Come here." He choked out past the lump in his throat.

He'd always remember and appreciate that she instantly obeyed, her only hesitation coming when she awkwardly perched on the couch next to him, and he knew that was because she had most likely never sat down in the Captain's Ready Room. That and the small couch was better suited to Kathryn's petite frame than to people of their height.

In fact, Seven wasn't thinking of that, not consciously. As she sat, she saw that Chakotay's legs were shaking violently. Unthinkingly, on empathic impulse, she put a comforting hand on his thigh. A self-conscious second later, she started to draw back, but Chakotay's hand clasped hers tight and held it there. A breath she hadn't been aware of holding loudly escaped Seven's chest.

"You okay?" Chakotay murmured, his own thoughts finally beginning to settle as he focused for a few moments on how the metal encasing her fingers felt pleasantly cold against his clammy palm, or how the human skin which peeked out around it rapidly warmed under his touch.

Seven stared at their interlocked hands, drawn into his lap. "Apprehensive…confused…" Her whisper petered out.

Chakotay's shoulders shook as a ghost of smile passed over his bloodless lips. "All of the above." He agreed ruefully, "And tired."

Seven's face mirrored his for the briefest second. "Very." She clarified, "Exhausted."

He nodded readily, pushing the point by leaning back on the couch as he regarded her gently. "Judging by the reaction of Admiral Paris and those at Pathfinder, we're going to get a warm welcome." He cringed at the strain in his voice, audible even to his on ears.

Seven's face was guarded for a moment before she dropped the pretence and her shoulders sagged with a resigned sigh. "Admiral Paris has his son and granddaughter abroad." She reminded him softly, "And the main goal of the staff assigned to the Pathfinder project was to facilitate Voyager's safe return to Earth. I'm sure all of them will welcome us…"

"But not necessarily everyone." Chakotay finished for her succinctly, squeezing her hand when she glanced away, shamefaced. He should've known she'd see through his brave front, if anyone understood underlying ambivalence and uncertainty about change it was Seven of Nine. "I don't think either of us thought it would be simple if we got home."

Somehow it made Seven feel a little easier to hear him say 'if', however much that homecoming was now a certainty. It was a comfort to think that Chakotay had been as inclined as she to be realistic about Voyager's prospects. They had to be realistic now. "Undoubtedly it will be complicated." She answered and that admission alone was enough to push her into blurting out the most basic question. "What should we do now?"

Chakotay looked at her with a mixture of fondness and trepidation before taking a deep breath and following her blunt lead. "I don't know." He saw her blanch, though she hid it quickly. He sighed thoughtfully and flashed her a genuine, if faint, smile. "Which date were we on?"

"Date?" Seven echoed, staring at him blankly. Whatever she'd expected him to say, whatever she'd braced herself for, it hadn't been that. Yet here he was, expecting an answer. "We…" She began but stalled. To count their dates seemed so ludicrous now. Her social lesson had not prepared her for the last 48 hours in the slightest! She met his eye, "We…we have skipped ahead a great deal."

Chakotay looked down for a split second, thinking like her of what Captain Chakotay had dragged them into, but then he matched her gaze. "Yes, yes we have." He conceded softly. "I can honestly say I know you better than anyone else I've ever been involved with." He chuckled quietly as she blushed brightly, "Maybe not all your likes and dislikes, but how you see things, how we cope with things together..." He looked out at Earth again for a moment then back at her, "But if life around us is complicated, we can be simple, can't we?"

Seven's face was pained as she swallowed hard in response. She was blinking rapidly. "But it's not simple." She argued thickly, "The future between us Captain Chakotay experienced that is not guaranteed, it will be different. We can't know if it will be better…or worse. I do not want you to feel pressure to be with me…"

"The future of any relationship isn't guaranteed Seven." Chakotay told her, "There's always an element of risk involved, it was there before we met Captain Chakotay and its here now. No one can say what's going to happen, not even someone from the future." Tenderly, he cupped her cheek with his free hand. "I've never felt any pressure around you Seven…" He smiled, "Desire, yes, but not pressure…" His grin widened as she nodded shyly, wide-eyed, against his hand. "If you think I'm going to give up on us just because of what might happen then you need to get to know me a little better."

"Perhaps I do." Seven admitted, smiling even as her voice was choked with emotion. "But I want to, truly."

"Good." Chakotay whispered, gently pulling her into his arms and experiencing relief as well as exhilaration as she hugged him back fiercely, her head dropping onto his shoulder. "The only thing we can do for Captain Chakotay now is live life to the full, whatever happens."

A/n: Please review! :)

Thank you to everyone, readers, followers and reviewers for sticking with this story for the long-haul. I appreciate it.